My first big decision

A year ago, I made a big decision.

Now certainly, my decision isn’t Earth-shaking in any way- I am a boy of fourteen, after all, but I must mention that this did have a profound impact on my personal self and significantly altered the path of my life. 

A year ago, I was studying in a school- not very special, just a normal private school. The teaching was good, the teachers amiable (mostly), and my classmates fun. I can’t say I was fully satisfied with society there- I did have my ups and downs, but I let them pass, and life was good.

Until I took an exam.

I periodically write Olympiads and competitive exams, just for the challenge- solving problems gives me a great amount of satisfaction, and this exam was no different. It was an entrance exam for a four-year program in a reputed coaching institute that trains its students to crack, with flying colours, the big university entrance tests of India- JEE for engineering universities, and NEET for medical universities, along with many other prestigious Olympiads and competitive exams. Joining this institute was the last thing on my mind, though, mainly because it involved switching schools and assuming a busy work schedule, studying for both the regular school exams as well as the university entrance exams, leaving very little space for extra-curricular activities.

And for me, extra-curricular activities were as vital as food and water- I can’t function without music, writing, reading and all my other hobbies. This made declining the offer to join (that is, if I get one) a no-brainer. But that was until I actually got the offer.

I did pass the exam with a good percentile, and they offered me a seat in the program with a ninety per cent scholarship. Seeing this, I actually started considering this as another option. In a few weeks, though, I found myself inclining more and more towards accepting. I attribute it to a combination of some unpleasant incidents with friends at school, and my own contemplation, but I ended up deciding that accepting the seat was a no-brainer.

Now, here I am, after finishing a year in the course. It is very hectic- they require us to learn and master high-level concepts far beyond the scope of normal school curriculum in a span of a few days- but I think I am enjoying it. And I still get to indulge in my hobbies for the same, if not more than how much time I spent on them in the school I was previously studying in. This decision has surely increased my future prospects of getting into a good university tenfold, and has led to a new personal chapter, with new friends and foes. Though I must admit, I enjoy being with my mates here so much more than I did in the school I was in before.

I learnt a lot from just the experience of making this decision, this being the first big, life-altering choice of mine. And what I learnt is this- important decisions are not things to be mulled over, for, everything has to work out eventually, and no change is truly life-altering. I have since assumed a more relaxed approach to making choices and taking decisions, and I certainly think everyone reading this should think about not pressuring themselves about the choices they have to make in their lives- it truly helps.